Understanding the Three-Panel Layout

CodeMantis splits your workspace into three panels so you can navigate files, chat with Claude Code, and monitor activity without switching windows. Each panel is resizable — drag the dividers to adjust widths to your preference.

Sidebar (Left Panel)

The sidebar gives you a bird's-eye view of your project:

• File tree — Browse and open any file in your project directory. Files are displayed in a collapsible tree that mirrors your folder structure.
• Git status — See the current branch name and a count of uncommitted changes at a glance, so you always know where you stand before committing or switching branches.

Click any file in the tree to open it in the editor tab on the right panel.

Chat Panel (Center)

The chat panel is where you interact with Claude Code:

• Conversation history — Scroll through your full session, including messages, code suggestions, and tool results.
• Message input — Type instructions, questions, or follow-ups at the bottom of the panel. Press Enter to send.
• Mode indicator — The current session mode (Normal, Auto-Accept, or Plan) is displayed near the input area. Switch modes with Command + . at any time.

Right Panel

The right panel uses a tabbed interface to house several tools:

Activity Feed

A real-time log of every action Claude Code performs. Actions are color-coded for quick scanning:

• Blue — File reads
• Green — File writes (new files)
• Yellow — File edits (modifications)
• Purple — Bash commands

When running in Normal mode, tool approval buttons appear inline in the Activity Feed. You can approve or reject each action before it executes.

Files

A built-in Monaco editor (the same engine behind VS Code) for viewing and editing files directly inside CodeMantis. When you click a file in the sidebar or in a Claude Code response, it opens here.

Terminal

An integrated terminal so you can run shell commands without leaving CodeMantis. Useful for installing dependencies, running scripts, or checking logs.

Changelog

A summary of all file changes made during the current session, giving you a clear record of what Claude Code modified.

Assistants

Manage multiple AI assistants running in parallel. Each assistant has its own chat session and can work on a different task simultaneously.

Resizing Panels

Drag the vertical dividers between panels to resize them. CodeMantis remembers your preferred layout between sessions.